10/16/19
HAYS, Kan. – Degree programs offered by Fort Hays State University through the FHSU Virtual College received a No. 1 ranking for the most affordable online college in Kansas as well as eight top-10 recognitions, including four top-five ratings, in September.

OnlineColleges.com
No. 1, Best Online Universities in Kansas for 2019-20
Fort Hays State claimed OnlineColleges.com’s, www.onlinecolleges.com, top spot for its study of the best online colleges in Kansas for 2019-20. The study covered affordability, financial aid resources, ratio of on-campus to online students, and number of online programs offered.

FHSU’s Virtual College prides itself in having tuition rates ranked among the lowest in the United States and the lowest rates of any four-year college in Kansas. The university awards and delivers more than $59 million in financial assistance. With nearly 200 online degree and certificate programs, Fort Hays State boasts a distance education participation of 81 percent, according to OnlineColleges.com.

To view this ranking, visit https://bit.ly/2AQbY8X.

Top Counseling Schools
No. 2, Most Affordable Online Master’s in Clinical Psychology
Top Counseling Schools, www.topcounselingschools.org, awarded FHSU’s master in clinical psychology the No. 2 program in the nation out of 29 schools. The study was based on tuition, recognition and flexibility for students.  

The clinical approach of the program prepares them well for careers in counseling, social work, health and human services, said TopCounselingSchools.

To see this ranking, visit https://bit.ly/2MhyEU4.

College Consensus
No. 3, Best Online Bachelor’s in Accounting Degree Programs 2019
College Consensus, www.collegeconsensus.com, awarded FHSU’s W.R. and Yvonne Robbins College of Business and Entrepreneurship a top-five spot for its Bachelor of Business Administration in accounting. The degree, said College Consensus, will prepare students for a multitude of high-demand positions.

The study was conducted based on affordability, convenience, and reputation, with each weighted at 33 percent. Fort Hays State was chosen as the No. 3 program out of almost 300 programs.

To see this this ranking, visit https://bit.ly/2OygNuX.

Online Schools Report
No. 5, Best Online Special Education Degrees
Fort Hays State’s College of Education was ranked No. 5 by www.onlineschoolsreport.com for its online minor in special education. There are six categories the ranking is based on: student satisfaction, admission rate, online presence, popularity at school, department size and median debt by program.

Online Schools Report said Fort Hays State focuses on modern teaching techniques and how to utilize technology effectively in the classroom.

To see this ranking, visit https://bit.ly/2pOxeca.

Affordable Schools
No. 5, Affordable Online Bachelor in Information Networking and Telecommunications
Affordable Schools ranked FHSU’s Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science in information networking and telecommunications with a concentration in computer networking and telecommunications at No. 5 in its latest rankings. The program gives students the opportunity to earn their degrees while also earning credit towards industry specific certifications needed for the workforce. With small class sizes and laboratory equipment supported by leading companies like Cisco and Oracle, students are able to advance their skills in a great environment.

Affordable Schools, www.affordableschools.net, chose programs based on the average cost of attendance and student to faculty ratio.

To see this ranking, visit https://bit.ly/2MEcYlB.

No. 6, Online Bachelor of Science in Computer Science
FHSU’s online Bachelor of Science in computer science received a No. 6 ranking from Affordable Schools based on the average cost of attendance and student to faculty ratio at FHSU.

The program exposes students to networking cognates in areas such as back-end and front-end Web development, database design and programming, and an introduction to web development said Affordable Schools.

To see this ranking, visit https://bit.ly/2EWlHKg.

Value Colleges
No. 8, Online Degree in Special Education
The College of Education’s online Bachelor of Science in education with a minor in special education was ranked No. 8 by www.valuecolleges.com in its September rankings. Rankings are based on three equally weighted factors: tuition price, student satisfaction and alumni salary.

Value Colleges said the program at FHSU is good for prospective teachers who want the widest range of career opportunities possible.

To see this ranking, visit https://bit.ly/2AZ5wvD.

The Best Schools
No. 10, Affordable Online Computer Science Degrees
Based on the program quality, online classes offered, faculty, awards and reputation, FHSU’s Bachelor of Science in computer science was ranked No. 10 nationally by www.thebestschools.org. Degrees like this continue to become increasingly important with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projecting a 13–percent employment increase in the field by 2026.

Among its many fully online degrees, its online bachelor’s degree in computer science deserves attention for its academic rigor and affordable tuition said The Best Schools.

To see this ranking, visit https://bit.ly/2IBmIvn.

Top Counseling Schools
No. 10, Online Psychology Degree
In addition to FHSU’s master in clinical psychology, Top Counseling Schools ranked FHSU’s Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science in psychology, which came in as No. 10 in its national rankings. The degree prepares students for various careers in psychology and related fields as well as for graduate study, said Top Counseling Schools.

The ranking is based on tuition affordability, program quality and courses offered, accreditations and rankings as well as flexibility of the program. The reputation of the school and faculty are also taken into account.

To see this ranking, visit https://bit.ly/2ICZYez.

Online Schools Report
No. 14, Best Online Computer Programming Degree
Fort Hays State received a second ranking from www.onlineschoolsreport.com for its Bachelor of Science in computer science that was ranked No. 14 in the nation for its online degree program. The ranking is based on six criteria: student satisfaction, admission rate, online presence, popularity at school, department size and median debt by program.

To see this ranking, visit https://bit.ly/2B3hwMA.

Online Degrees
No. 16, Online Psychology Degree
Online Degrees, www.onlinedegrees.com, looked at tuition, percent of students engaged in distance education, financial aid options and other criteria to rank FHSU’s Bachelor of Arts or Science in psychology as No. 16 in the nation.

The program includes theoretical curriculum but also features an emphasis on experiential learning said Online Degrees.

To see this ranking, visit https://bit.ly/325NWSC.

Registered Nursing
No. 23, Online RN to BSN Program
FHSU’s online RN to BSN program came in at No. 23 on the Registered Nursing, www.registerednursing.org, rankings. Fort Hays State’s RN to BSN program can be completed in just three semesters.

The curriculum empowers students to utilize critical thinking skills and expanded knowledge to advance their nursing education states Registered Nursing.

To see this ranking, visit https://bit.ly/2IE3ZiK.

About the FHSU Virtual College
Education at distance from Fort Hays State began in 1911 when faculty voted to offer courses free by mail so that one-room school teachers across western Kansas could afford to gain the continuing education required to teach. The distance education department created then evolved continuously with changing technology and culture until, in 1997, the Department of Continuing Education and Instructional Technology became the FHSU Virtual College.